JJ Guitars – Electra Customworks – Guitar Review

About 5 years ago I was searching for a high quality, good looking and good sounding guitar. I wanted to have a guitar which sounds unique and fits to my specs and tuning.

…Forget about all the so called big name manufacturers… get yourself a JJ and you’ll never ask for anything more!…

The next problem was that I’m a lefty and the big manufacturers often only make a few left-handed models.

Mostly all the guitars I liked were not available as a left-handed version. So I searched for a guitar-manufacturer who can give me what I need and I found JJ Guitars.

These guitars look amazing, sound fat but always sophisticated and are handmade in the UK… so I can get every model as a left-handed version. So I bought a JJ Special Blue and a Special Gold.

They are my constant companions still today and a few weeks ago I got my latest baby: My left handed JJ Electra in Tropical Blue which was made by the JJ Guitars “Customworks” division.

Features:

Brazilian Mahogany Body

5A Premium Grade Tiger Stripe Maple Top

Bound Body

Aged Rosewood Fingerboard

Planet Waves Auto Trim Locking Tuning Machines

TonePros Bridge with locking studs

Twin JJ – HB1 Humbucking Pickups

One Volume – One Tone Control

Tone pot push pull Coil Tap Facility

Three way Pickup Selector

Switchcraft Jack Input

Complete with a JJ “Hiscox” Lite Flight Case

Ease of use:

This Guitar almost plays autonomous! 🙂 Everything on this guitar is more than just great… it’s perfect!

JJ made this guitar to my specs and tuning. They even put the string gauges I normally use on this guitar.

I wanted to play the guitar straight out of the box, which it did even being shipped from England to Switzerland! Whilst the action of the guitar is quite low, the setup is so good none of the strings are clanking, so it’s really easy to play.

The tuning is absolutely stable. Even playing open-air-shows outside, the guitar stays perfect in tune.

I used to put Planet Waves Auto Trim tuners and Switchcraft Jacks on all of my guitars because they are simply the best… but when you buy a JJ you don’t have to refit your guitar with these features, they’re already included and the electronics are of the highest quality!

Sound Quality:

The sound quality of these guitars is second to none. From great rock tones to cool funk tones… everything is possible.

With the tone pot push pull coil tap facility you can get great single coil or excellent humbucking tones out of this guitar. I’ve never played a better sounding or more versatile guitar.

Reliability:

I have played JJ guitars for about 5 years now and all of my three guitars are absolutely road-capable.

I play about 40 shows a year and all of my JJ’s are still in a blameless condition. I’ve never had to repair or replace anything.

My guitar tech just sets up the action and all that stuff from time to time but that‘s all. These guitars are really though.

Overall Rating:

I say it clear and brief: JJ Guitars and especially my new JJ Electra is the best guitar I’ve ever played.

Forget about all the so called big name manufacturers… get yourself a JJ and you’ll never ask for anything more! 🙂 Check out their Website: www.jjguitars.com.

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1 Comment

Ron Baker

August 13, 2011
4:11:28 pm

I have been playing a JJ Retrolux for a couple of years and I’m thrilled with the guitar, not suprised at the review from Michael. I really like the look of the JJ Custom Works guitars on their website. I think I will have to save some hard earned gig money first and then go check em out. Ron